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Clipper 33 Cheoy Lee
Designer: A. E. Luders  ·  Builder: Cheoy Lee Shipyard Ltd.(Hk)  ·  First built: 1970
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About the Clipper 33 Cheoy Lee

Designed by renowned naval architect A.E. Luders and built by Hong Kong's respected Cheoy Lee Shipyard from 1970 to 1987, this classic 33-footer represents traditional cruising sailboat design at its finest. The staysail ketch rig configuration offers excellent sail balance and manageable sail handling, making it particularly appealing for shorthanded sailing or couples looking to venture beyond coastal waters. With its long keel design and substantial 12,000-pound displacement, the Clipper 33 delivers the steady, predictable sailing characteristics that blue water cruisers value. The generous ballast-to-displacement ratio provides excellent stability, while the moderate sail area keeps the boat manageable in varying wind conditions. The comfort ratio of 32.37 indicates this is a boat designed for extended passages rather than weekend racing, prioritizing seaworthiness over speed. The fiberglass construction and Cheoy Lee's reputation for solid craftsmanship have helped many of these boats remain seaworthy decades after launch. While not fast by modern standards, the Clipper 33's forgiving nature, comfortable motion at sea, and proven offshore capabilities make it an excellent choice for serious cruising sailors seeking a traditional, well-built vessel for coastal and offshore adventures.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 32.92 ft / 10.03 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 24.00 ft / 7.32 m
Beam 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
Max Draft 4.00 ft / 1.22 m
Displacement 12,000.00 lb / 5,443 kg
Ballast 3,650.00 lb / 1,656 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 568.00 ft² / 52.77 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Long Keel
Rigging Type Staysail Ketch
Construction FG
Designer A. E. Luders
Builder Cheoy Lee Shipyard Ltd.(HK)
First Built 1970
Last Built 1987
Associations Cheoy Lee Association Web Site
Related Sailboats ["Offshore 33 Cheoy Lee" · "Pearson 33" · "Morgan Out Island 33" · "Irwin 33" · "Alajuela 33"]
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 17.4
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 30.42
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 387.52
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 32.37
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 1.75
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 6.56 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 1.05
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 857.55 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 14.46
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 34.50 ft / 10.52 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 16.50 ft / 5.03 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 30.00 ft / 9.14 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 12.50 ft / 3.81 m
SA Fore 284.63 ft² / 26.44 m²
SA Main 187.50 ft² / 17.42 m²
SA Total (100%) 472.13 ft² / 43.86 m²
Est. Forestay Length 38.24 ft / 11.66 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Universal
Engine Model Atomic 4
Engine Type gas
Horsepower 30
Fuel Capacity 26 gals / 98 L
Water Capacity 50 gals / 189 L
How It Compares

vs. Irwin 33, Morgan Out Island 33, Pearson 33

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Clipper 33 Cheoy Lee ★
32.9 ft
Irwin 33
33.0 ft
Morgan Out Island 33
33.0 ft
Pearson 33
32.9 ft
LWL
Clipper 33 Cheoy Lee ★
24.0 ft
Irwin 33
27.5 ft
Morgan Out Island 33
27.5 ft
Pearson 33
25.8 ft
Beam
Clipper 33 Cheoy Lee ★
10.0 ft
Irwin 33
11.2 ft
Morgan Out Island 33
11.8 ft
Pearson 33
10.0 ft
Displacement
Clipper 33 Cheoy Lee ★
12 lbs
Irwin 33
10 lbs
Morgan Out Island 33
14 lbs
Pearson 33
10 lbs
Ballast
Clipper 33 Cheoy Lee ★
3 lbs
Irwin 33
4 lbs
Morgan Out Island 33
5 lbs
Pearson 33
4 lbs
Sail Area
Clipper 33 Cheoy Lee ★
568 sq ft
Irwin 33
514 sq ft
Morgan Out Island 33
522 sq ft
Pearson 33
—
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Clipper 33 Cheoy Lee ★
—
Irwin 33
159 s/nm
Morgan Out Island 33
—
Pearson 33
177 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Clipper 33 Cheoy Lee ★
17.4
Irwin 33
16.7
Morgan Out Island 33
14.1
Pearson 33
—
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Clipper 33 Cheoy Lee ★
30.4 %
Irwin 33
—
Morgan Out Island 33
34.5 %
Pearson 33
38.4 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Clipper 33 Cheoy Lee ★
32.4
Irwin 33
23.3
Morgan Out Island 33
28.6
Pearson 33
—
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Clipper 33 Cheoy Lee ★
1.75
Irwin 33
2.02
Morgan Out Island 33
1.94
Pearson 33
—
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Clipper 33 Cheoy Lee ★
387
Irwin 33
—
Morgan Out Island 33
311
Pearson 33
284
Hull Speed
Clipper 33 Cheoy Lee ★
6.6 kts
Irwin 33
7.0 kts
Morgan Out Island 33
7.0 kts
Pearson 33
—
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Clipper 33 Cheoy Lee ★
1.1
Irwin 33
2.3
Morgan Out Island 33
1.4
Pearson 33
—
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